Higher yields are seen helping reduce pressure on margins for a sector which has been struggling to grow due to sluggish economic growth and ultra low interest rates.

“The ECB announced today that it will begin tapering its asset purchases ... in a clear sign that it is reaching the limits of what it is willing to do under the bond buying program,” ONADA analyst Craig Erlam said in a note.

The ECB said it would cut its asset purchases to 60 billion euros per month from next April from the current 80 billion euros, adding asset buys will run until the end of 2017, or longer if necessary.

The pan-European STOXX 600 index was up 0.6 percent to its highest since early September.

Across Europe, Italy’s FTSE MIB index rose 1.3 percent to its highest since late May, supported by a 4.6 percent rise in its banking index to a five-month high.

Italian banks have risen strongly this week, with investors betting that there could be an agreement to help rescue troubled lender Monte dei Paschi di Siena, even though Prime Minister Matteo Renzi resigned following a defeat in a referendum over constitutional reform.

Monte dei Paschi rose for a third straight day and was last up 6.8 percent. The bank has asked the ECB for more time to wrap up a 5 billion euro ($5.4 billion) rescue plan that was thrown into doubt by Renzi’s resignation.

Miners were also in demand, with the regional index rising 2.2 percent after metals prices rose on a softer U.S. dollar and strong Chinese commodities import figures.

Elsewhere, shares in Swedish biometric technology firm Fingerprint Cards fell 10 percent, the top decliner in the STOXX Europe 600 index, after the company sharply cut its 2016 revenue forecast.

Bookmakers Ladbrokes Coral and William Hill fell 5.2 percent and 7 percent respectively after The Times reported a cross-party group of MPs would demand on Thursday stricter controls on betting machines. (Reporting by Danilo Masoni; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky)